Posted on 2013-09-06 | 05:04

“The Bill is an absolute mess and this was demonstrated by the fact that the Government Minister who introduced the Second Reading obviously had not got a clue about the consequences - intended or otherwise” said Roger.

He continued: “I believe that the Bill was given a Second Reading because the overwhelming majority of Conservative and Lib.Dem MPs voted for it  while the Opposition Parties were only joined by a small number of Government ‘rebels’.

Concern about Part 2 of the Bill is well made and it reflects the many other letters and communications I have had from organisations who share similar views about the intentions of the Bill and the way it will impact upon organisations who campaign on a variety of issues.

For what it is worth I believe that one of the big motivating factors in bringing this Bill forward came from Lib.Dem MPs who are extremely concerned that in the forthcoming General Election in under two years time their sitting MPs and candidates will be under strong criticism and attack locally from student organisations who are still furious about the way that they were hoodwinked at the last General Election into believing that the Lib.Dems would not support any increase in tuition fees and yet, as almost their first act as part of the Coalition, they went back on this solemn promise which they had given and which got massive publicity at the time

He concluded: “In view of the avalanche of criticism that were was against the Bill at Second Reading I am sure that the Government will introduce some changes but I am not confident that they will change the main thrust of their legislation although I can assure you that I will, and my colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party, will be voting against this Bill.”